whole venomous snake in the bottle. It originated in Vietnam and can be
found around Southeast Asia. The snakes, preferably venomous ones,
are usually not preserved for their meat. They are preserved to have the
snake poison dissolved in the liquor. However, because snake venom is
protein-based, they are unfolded and therefore inactivated due to the
influence of the denaturing effects of ethanol.
A large venomous snake can be placed into a glass jar of rice wine, often
with many smaller snakes, turtles, insects, or birds, and left to steep for
many months. The wine is drunk as a restorative in small shots or cups
Body fluids of snake are mixed into wine and consumed immediately in
the form of a shot. Snake blood wine is prepared by slicing a snake along
its belly and draining its blood into a mixing vat with rice wine or grain
alcohol. Snake bile wine is done through a similar method by using the
contents of the gall bladder. Snake meat, liver, and skin can be prepared
to accompany the drinks.
